Thomas M. Carden Jr. is a United States Army general who has served as the 13th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau since February 2026. He previously served as the deputy commander of United States Northern Command from May 2024 to January 2026. Prior to that, he served as the adjutant general of Georgia from 2019 to 2024, and as the deputy commander of Multi-National Division Southeast (Romania) from 2017 to 2019.

In January 2024, Carden was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as deputy commander of the United States Northern Command and vice commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

In June 2025, Carden was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on 12 January 2026, and assumed office on 2 February 2026.

Awards

Carden's decorations include:

Badge Combat Infantryman Badge Badge Parachutist Badge 1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal 2nd Row Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters 3rd Row Army Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster Iraq Campaign Medal 4th Row Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal 5th Row Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon U.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 silverOak leaf cluster 6th Row Armed Forces Reserve Medal with award numeral 2 Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon NATO Medal for service with ISAF with 1 servicestar Badges 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade British Army Parachute Badge Two Overseas Service Bars
BadgeCombat Infantryman Badge
BadgeParachutist Badge
1st RowArmy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service Medal
2nd RowLegion of MeritBronze Star MedalMeritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
3rd RowArmy Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf clusterNational Defense Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf clusterIraq Campaign Medal
4th RowArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalHumanitarian Service Medal
5th RowArmy Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service RibbonU.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 silverOak leaf cluster
6th RowArmed Forces Reserve Medal with award numeral 2Army Reserve Components Overseas Training RibbonNATO Medal for service with ISAF with 1 servicestar
Badges560th Battlefield Surveillance BrigadeBritish Army Parachute BadgeTwo Overseas Service Bars
Military offices
Preceded byJoseph JarrardAdjutant General of Georgia 2019–2024Succeeded byRichard D. Wilson
Preceded byA. C. RoperDeputy Commander of the United States Northern Command 2024–presentIncumbent